Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Modern Lifestyle, Habits & Productivity 7
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The 30-Day Compliment Challenge
My name is Toby, and for most of my life, I have been an incredibly shy person. Talking to people I didn’t know always made my heart beat fast, and I usually avoided making eye contact. However, a month ago, I decided that I wanted to change. While reading an article online, I found out about the 30-Day “Compliment a Stranger” Challenge. The rule was simple: you have to say something nice to a person you don’t know every single day. I knew it would be difficult, but I hoped it would finally help me overcome my fear.
I will never forget the first day of the challenge. I was standing in a coffee shop, and there was a boy in front of me wearing a really cool jacket. I wanted to tell him I liked it, but I felt absolutely terrified. My hands were shaking, and I almost walked out of the shop. Finally, I took a deep breath and just said it. To my surprise, he didn’t think I was strange. He smiled brightly and thanked me, explaining that it was a birthday present.
During the first week, I still felt quite anxious before speaking to anyone. But soon, something unexpected happened. I stopped worrying about my own feelings and started focusing on the other people. Whenever I told a woman that she had a beautiful smile or told an old man that his dog was cute, their faces completely lit up with joy. I began to realise that a few simple words could easily change someone’s entire day for the better.
Now that the thirty days are over, my daily life has completely changed. I haven’t completely stopped being a shy person, but I am certainly much more confident than I used to be. Giving a genuine compliment to a stranger is no longer a frightening task; in fact, it has quickly become the best part of my daily routine. I enjoy the feeling so much that I have decided not to stop the challenge. I plan to continue sharing kindness with strangers every day!
1 Why did Toby decide to start the challenge?
(A) To become more popular on the internet.
(B) To try and stop being so nervous around people.
(C) Because his friends asked him to do it.
(D) To win a prize in an online competition.
2 How did Toby feel during his first attempt at the coffee shop?
(A) He was disappointed by the boy’s reaction to his compliment.
(B) He was so frightened that he almost left without speaking.
(C) He felt annoyed because he had to wait in line for a long time.
(D) He was surprised that the boy wanted to talk about his birthday.
3 What changed for Toby after the first week of the challenge?
(A) He decided to only give compliments to older people.
(B) He found it harder to think of nice things to say.
(C) He paid more attention to how he made others feel.
(D) He stopped feeling nervous completely.
4 What does Toby say about his life now?
(A) He has stopped the challenge to try something new.
(B) He finds it difficult to remember to compliment people.
(C) He is no longer a shy person at all.
(D) He looks forward to complimenting strangers every day.
5 What would Toby write in his diary about the challenge?
(A) Giving compliments is a nice idea, but I’m glad the thirty days are over because it was just too stressful for me.
(B) I have spoken to so many strangers this month, but it hasn’t really helped me feel any more confident.
(C) The challenge was terrifying at first, but seeing the happiness it brings to others has made me a braver person.
(D) It is amazing how easy it is to talk to people, though I wish I had received more compliments in return.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that Toby was a shy person and hoped the challenge “would finally help me overcome my fear.” This paraphrases as trying to stop being nervous around people.
2 B – In the second paragraph, Toby says he felt “absolutely terrified,” his hands were shaking, and he “almost walked out of the shop” before speaking.
3 C – Paragraph 3 explains that Toby “stopped worrying about my own feelings and started focusing on the other people,” which matches paying more attention to how he made others feel.
4 D – In the final paragraph, Toby says giving compliments “has quickly become the best part of my daily routine” and that he plans to continue doing it, showing he looks forward to it every day.
5 C – This option correctly captures the overall message of the text. Toby acknowledges the initial fear (“terrifying at first”), the turning point (“focusing on the other people / faces completely lit up”), and the ultimate result (“much more confident”).
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Power of the ‘Done’ List
For a long time, I believed that the only way to be a successful student was to be highly organised. Every morning, I woke up early and wrote a long ‘to-do’ list in my diary. I included absolutely everything, from studying for biology exams to cleaning my bedroom and attending basketball practice. However, no matter how hard or fast I worked, I rarely managed to cross off every single item. When I went to bed, looking at those unfinished tasks always made me feel like a complete failure, even if I had been incredibly busy all day long.
One evening, I was feeling particularly exhausted and miserable about my uncrossed list. My older brother, who is usually very relaxed about his studies, noticed I was upset. He told me that I was focusing on the wrong things and suggested a completely different approach: a ‘done’ list. He explained that instead of writing down what I needed to do in the future, I should write down everything I actually accomplished during the day. At first, I thought this sounded like a silly idea that wouldn’t actually help me get my schoolwork done.
Despite my doubts, I decided to give his advice a try the following day. I found an empty notebook and kept it open on my desk. Whenever I finished an activity, I immediately wrote it down. I recorded everything, whether it was finishing a difficult maths project, taking the family dog for a walk, or simply reading a chapter of a novel. When it was time to sleep, I looked at the page. Seeing a list of twelve completed tasks gave me an unexpected and incredible sense of achievement.
It has been a month since I changed my daily routine, and the results have been amazing. I no longer go to sleep feeling stressed or burnt out by my responsibilities. I still use a small digital calendar to remember important school deadlines, but my handwritten ‘done’ list is what I focus on every evening. Celebrating my daily achievements has significantly improved my confidence and my mood. I have finally realised that reminding yourself of what you have done is much healthier than worrying about what you haven’t.
1 Why was the writer unhappy at the end of the day?
(A) He didn’t have enough time to go to basketball practice.
(B) He felt bad because he couldn’t complete his daily lists.
(C) He thought he wasn’t busy enough during the daytime.
(D) He kept forgetting to write down his biology homework.
2 What was the writer’s initial opinion of the ‘done’ list?
(A) He believed it wouldn’t be useful for finishing his tasks.
(B) He thought his older brother should try using it first.
(C) He was angry that his brother was looking at his diary.
(D) He felt too exhausted to understand how it worked.
3 How did the writer feel when he looked at his notebook before sleep?
(A) surprised that he had forgotten to walk the family dog
(B) disappointed that he had only finished twelve activities
(C) proud of how much he had managed to complete
(D) worried about a difficult maths project he had to do
4 What is the writer’s current approach to his daily routine?
(A) He has completely stopped worrying about school deadlines.
(B) He uses his phone to write down his list of achievements.
(C) He still prepares a ‘to-do’ list but makes it much shorter.
(D) He uses different methods for deadlines and personal successes.
5 What would the writer write in his diary now?
(A) My brother’s idea was terrible. Writing down what I have done just reminds me of how much free time I am wasting.
(B) I can’t believe how a simple change in my habits has cured my exhaustion. I feel so much more positive about my days!
(C) I really need to get more organised. From tomorrow, I’m going to start writing longer ‘to-do’ lists so I don’t fail my exams.
(D) Keeping a ‘done’ list is a lot of hard work, but I’m glad I don’t have to use a calendar for my schoolwork anymore.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that “looking at those unfinished tasks always made me feel like a complete failure,” matching the idea that he felt bad because he couldn’t complete his lists.
2 A – In the second paragraph, the writer says, “I thought this sounded like a silly idea that wouldn’t actually help me get my schoolwork done,” indicating he didn’t think it would be useful for his tasks.
3 C – The third paragraph describes the writer looking at the page and feeling “an unexpected and incredible sense of achievement,” which means he was proud of how much he had completed.
4 D – In the fourth paragraph, the writer explains that he uses a digital calendar for “important school deadlines” and a handwritten ‘done’ list for “daily achievements,” showing he uses different methods for each.
5 B – This option successfully captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from exhaustion and burnout to feeling positive and confident simply by focusing on accomplishments instead of unfinished tasks.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Beating the Sunday Scaries
For a long time, Sunday afternoons were the worst part of my week. Usually, by about four o’clock, I would start getting a horrible, tight knot of anxiety in my stomach. People often call this feeling the “Sunday Scaries”. Even though I was still technically on my weekend, my brain was already worrying about Monday morning. I would stress about upcoming homework, difficult tests, and waking up early. Because of this, my Sundays were completely ruined, and I would spend the evening feeling miserable in my bedroom.
After several months of this, I realised I had to find a way to take back my weekend. I was wasting my free time worrying about things that hadn’t even happened yet. I spoke to my parents about how I was feeling, and together we tried to think of a solution. We realised that I needed something positive to focus my mind on at the exact time my anxiety usually started. That was when we came up with the idea of a weekly family movie night.
We made a strict plan to stop whatever we were doing every Sunday at six o’clock in the evening. We decided that we would all gather in the living room, turn off our mobile phones, and watch a film together. To make it fair, we take turns choosing the movie each week. Sometimes my dad picks a classic action film, and other times I choose a new comedy. We also prepare special snacks, like popcorn or nachos, which makes the whole experience feel like a real treat.
The change in my mood has been absolutely incredible. Now, when Sunday afternoon arrives, I no longer feel that familiar panic in my stomach. Instead of dreading the end of the weekend, I actually look forward to it. The movie night successfully distracts me from my school worries, and I spend the evening laughing and relaxing with my family.
If someone had told me last year that I would actually enjoy Sunday evenings, I wouldn’t have believed them. By the time the film finishes, it is time for bed, and I am usually so relaxed that I fall asleep immediately. When I wake up on Monday morning, I feel refreshed. It is amazing how scheduling just one fun event has completely cured my Sunday Scaries.
1 Why did the writer dislike Sunday afternoons?
(A) He had too much homework to finish before Monday.
(B) He began to feel nervous about the school week ahead.
(C) He hated having to stay in his bedroom by himself.
(D) He was angry that his weekend was already over.
2 What made the writer decide to change his Sunday routine?
(A) His parents complained that he was wasting his weekends.
(B) He wanted to find a way to avoid doing his schoolwork.
(C) He understood that his worrying was spoiling his time off.
(D) His friends told him how to stop his anxiety.
3 What is a rule for their family movie night?
(A) They must watch a comedy film every week.
(B) The parents are the only ones who can choose the snacks.
(C) They have to start watching the movie after dinner.
(D) Everyone must put their mobile phones away.
4 How does the writer feel about his Sundays now?
(A) He is surprised by how quickly the weekend ends.
(B) He feels glad that he has something enjoyable to focus on.
(C) He wishes his family would let him sleep earlier.
(D) He finds the family movies more exciting than school.
5 What would the writer write in his diary?
(A) I still get a little bit stressed on Sundays, but the movie night helps me to finish my homework faster.
(B) The Sunday Scaries used to be terrible, so I am glad I finally convinced my family to buy a new television.
(C) It’s hard to believe that planning one enjoyable family activity has completely stopped me from worrying about Mondays.
(D) I wish my parents had let me choose the movie this week, because watching action films makes me feel anxious.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in paragraph 1 that he got a “horrible, tight knot of anxiety” because his brain “was already worrying about Monday morning” and the upcoming school week.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer explains his realisation: “I had to find a way to take back my weekend. I was wasting my free time worrying about things that hadn’t even happened yet.”
3 D – Paragraph 3 outlines the rules they made for their movie night, explicitly stating that they decided to “turn off our mobile phones”.
4 B – In paragraph 4, the writer mentions that instead of dreading the end of the weekend, he looks forward to it because the movie night “successfully distracts me from my school worries”.
5 C – This option captures the global meaning of the text: the transformation from experiencing intense Sunday anxiety to feeling relaxed and refreshed simply by scheduling a fun, recurring family event.